This weekend

This weekend was for relaxing and naps. I think a new reality for me. I'm used to trying to do a hundred things in one weekend and I just can't. Some days it's success just getting out of bed.
Friday night I was able to go see Johnny Holmes (my dad's favorite local band) for an hour. It's sad that I beat my parents to bed. That's after teaching swimming lessons in the morning, eating lunch at Applebee's (the only thing I wanted before chemo last time), and napping all afternoon.
Saturday Jeanine Schieck came and visited in the morning. Thanks Jeanine for the flowers and taking time to come and visit us. Again it was more naps. I think I was on the 45 minute nap followed by 30 minutes awake repeat until bed time. I saw a few of the NCAA hockey games, but I can't tell you the scores of the games.
Sunday, I taught Sunday School and went to a pancake breakfast. Thank you Don and Sharon Gabrielson for stopping and seeing us. It was great seeing you and thanks for the magazines, Dena and I will put them to good use on Friday. I have had some problems with HOT flashes. Let me tell you it's not fun at 34 having hot flashes. I'm using a old pool technique opening the freezer to help.
This week I hope to have a normal week. I'm sure I will need to stop and take some naps. My energy level isn't the same as it was last time between chemo.
I have a doctors appointment (at 10:00) before chemo on Friday, as of right now Dena is going to chemo with me before she leaves on vacation for a week. I will be in chemo from 11:00 until who knows when. You're more then welcome to stop and see us during chemo if you are around on Friday.
Have a great week!
Anna

Trying week

Thank you to Cathy, Judy and Kiwi for taking time to come and see me on Sunday while my parents where out of town. And thanks to the rest of you that called.

This week as been a little bit of a trying week for me. Chemo went pretty good but the reaction to the shot has been a different story. I have been in a lot of joint pain until today and nothing but taking a bath really doesn't seem to help. I walked around a few days feeling like I was 100. I also had a few sleepless nights which didn't help.

I have also had to learn to slow down which I really don't like to do. I keep thinking I can do everything I did before and some.

Have a wonderful weekend
Anna

Chemo #2

I taught swimming lessons in Friday morning and learned the hard way that it causes dehydration being in the water that long. I thought that I drank enough but they basically told me I need to drink Gatorade all the way from the pool to the clinic and the problem should be solved. Also my white blood cell count was a little low so they had to wait for a doctor to give permission to start chemo. This afternoon I will have to go to the Hospital and get a shot of Neulasta (this will continue until I'm done with chemo). So it took longer then it should of to get started. My dad came to see where chemo takes place and how it gets started.
We got home after stopping at a few places at 7:00. I had some problems with nausea and I called the on call doctor to change one of my meds. That seemed to help a little bit.
On Thursday night, one of my dad's Aunties died so her Funeral is on Sunday afternoon in Rochester. They decided it won't be a good idea for me to go. I have a few people stopping in to check on me and if anyone else is in the neighborhood you're welcome to do so or give me a call.
Have a great weekend
Anna

In between week

This week overall has been a good week. For the most part it was a pretty normal week for me. I still have some fatigue but not as much as the first week after chemo. My appetite was back to normal. I was able to walk a few times , swam a few laps and taught an aqua jog class this week.

Today was the best I have felt in two weeks only to have chemo tomorrow and feel like crap again.

I'm a little bumped I won't be able to go to the Girls State Basketball Tournament tomorrow evening to watch New London Spicer. I'm hoping they make it to the championship game and I feel good enough to go or they will be on TV. Yes, Schiecks I will be wearing my sweatshirt.

I will be teaching swimming lessons in the morning tomorrow and then I have chemo at 12:30.

Have a great weekend
Anna

Last week

Overall I'm doing pretty good. From Friday to Wednesday of last week my diet consisted of chicken noodle soup and bread. I didn't have much of an appetite until about Thursday. To many Icees isn't a good thing. I froze my tongue and the meds didn't mix well. I'm still tired and have afternoon nap times. I have been lucky to visit Grandma & Grandpa's for a quick nap in the afternoons. Other then a sore back I'm doing good. I did visit one of my dad's friends (Wilmo's) hot tub last night to help with my back. I have had a pretty normal weekend. On Saturday I worked a Elementary Volleyball Tournament. Sunday I taught Sunday School, went to a movie, and bowling.

I'm hoping to have a normal schedule this week or what's normal to me. I have chemo again on Friday afternoon. I'm at the North Memorial Humphrey Cancer Center Outpatient Center 3435 West Broadway Robbinsdale, MN 55422. I can have visitors during chemo. Hey I'm just sitting around awaiting to be done, watching TV.

Have a great week
Anna

Sunday after Chemo visit # 1

Overall I had a good weekend. I'm still have fatigued which I'm taking lots of naps and I still have some nausea. Thank goodness for good meds to help with the nausea. I have fallen in love with icees we are talking two and three a day. They go down really good. And soup is my favorite thing to eat right now.
I was able to get out of the house a few times this weekend. Most of the time it's for a short while we are talking an hour to hour and half an outing but at least I can get out. I was able to attend a dinner party last night. Thanks girls it was great hang out with you.
Rollie, Ryan, Sandra, and the girls were in town. Auntie Judy had a lunch gathering this afternoon. It was great seeing everyone especially Rollie. Keep up the hard work buddy.
The picture attached is of Rollie, Elise (Sandra's youngest daughter), Abby (Sandra's oldest daughter), and myself.

Tomorrow I do plan on going to work. I would love to make it all day, but if I can go to some of it that will be great.

Thanks for all the well wishers this weekend.

Anna

Recap

Okay I'm learning why chemo isn't fun. Overall I think I'm doing pretty good it could be a lot worst. Last night was a little trying on me. About 6 pm I got more then nausea, my eye were tired but I think my body could ran a marathon and might of liked. Thank goodness they have meds for the nausea which help for a little bit. My parents keep reminding me to drink. Food doesn't even look good and I love to eat. I did sleep through the night to my parents surprise with waking up at 5:00 to watch a DVD and fall back to sleep for awhile.

For the pool staff when I was at the Cancer Center I saw Julie Benson a swimming mom in for treatment. I taught her daughter Kaelyn private lessons for years. I ask you to keep her in your prayers she has a tough fight in front of her. You can visit her caringbridge site @ julieshope It did help me seeing Julie when I started my treatment. What a nice family with a great attitude.

My mom and I also got to see my PET Scan and that was pretty cool.

Anna

Chemo #1

Today we met with the doctor I have stage 2 which basically means 8 cycles of chemo (16 weeks) followed by 3 to 5 weeks of radiation (radiation will be every day Monday-Friday).

Overall all chemo went pretty good just long and a lot of bonding time with my mom. I feel okay just tired and a little upset stomach.

I'm off to take some meds. and a nap (I'm following someones wise words).

Have a great weekend
Anna

This week

The number one question asked this week is How am I doing? For the most part pretty good, just tired. Yes, I do have my bad moments but they usually last about that long. Overall, I'm pretty positive about my treatment just a little worried about how I will feel after chemo. Anyone who knows me knows I don't like getting sick but after all who does.
Another popular question is What do you need? I don't really know what I need. And I'm usually not very good at asking.
What did I do this week on Spring Break? A lot of sleeping, some cleaning, a little swimming, a few walks, and hanging out with friends. And yes I did go skiing with 14 of my closest middle school friends today for the day. Today was the last trip of the year so I did hit the slopes for a few hours. I must say I'm tried after that.
I will be at my parents for the weekend so I have some help mentor my reactions to chemo. If you would like to stop over please call before stopping over. (I will have my cell phone or my parents number).
Thank you for all your support
I will try an update you tomorrow or have someone else update the blog for me.
Anna

Email Address

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Have a great night
Anna

PET Scan

I had a pretty good weekend minus being a little over emotional on Sunday morning. I did go to dinner and a movie (Slumdog Millionaire) on Sunday evening what a nice escape of reality.

This morning I had my first PET Scan. It's basically a two hour nap with a few wake up calls. I got there, and they tested my blood sugar, then they put some stuff in me and then told me to lay down for 45 minutes and then they got me up to move to the PET Scan room only to lay down again for hour to wake up again to move, lay down again for 15 minutes and then I was done. You know when you can't eat it's the only thing you want to do. Good thing they have pizza buffets for lunch.

I should have the results on Friday when I go for Chemo.

I'm off to take a nap so I can go to some of swim practice tonight.

Have a great week
Anna